Whitestone Road sign

Whitestone Parish Council


DRAFT Minutes of Council Meeting held at Whitestone Parish Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday 8th June 2023 to be ratified on 13th July 2023.

Attendance:- Chair – Councillor L Fairley
Councillors Cllrs M Belt, V Bryant, A Evans, C Galton
District Councillor J Parrott
District Councillor K Lake (from 8pm)
p> Mr Philip Mingo, Mr Bruce Moody
Mrs P Vaughan – Clerk to the Council
Apologies:- Cllr T Baird, County Councillor A Connett

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Mr Mingo said he was in attendance regarding concerns over the refusal of his planning application 22/01732/FUL to Teignbridge District Council which had been supported by the Parish Council. The Chair informed Mr Mingo that although the Parish had been asked for a report any decisions are within the authority of Teignbridge District Council. Some discussion took place regarding this and District Councillor Parrott agreed to discuss it further with Mr Mingo and look into the matter.

43.1 Minutes of the Council Meeting held on Thursday 11th May 2023 were taken as read and signed by Cllr Fairley. 

43.2 Cllr Belt raised the issue that the office of Liaison with Parish Lengthsman had not been included in the published May Minutes and wished it recorded that she holds this office. This was duly noted with all in favour. The Clerk apologised for the omission.

REPORT FROM DISTRICT COUNCILLORS

  1. Councillor Parrott introduced himself to the meeting and discussed the issues at Wanderlust and planning for glamping and also Chants Cottage.

Councillor Lake arrived at 8pm with apologies for not arriving at 7.30pm as he had another meeting.

  1. PLANNING - Applications can be viewed on line by going into the public access system at Teignbridge Planning following the directions giving the application reference. The following applications having been received from Teignbridge District Council with a request for comments were examined and responses were sent which can be viewed on Teignbridge District Council Planning site.

Grant of Conditional Planning Permission

22/01451/FUL Partial demolition of barn to create new dwelling at Higher Hare

  1. MATTERS FOR DISCUSSION

46.1 Vacancy for Parish Councillor

Mr Moody was in attendance to make application for a vacancy on the Council. He apologised for not having applied to be a Councillor in May as he had been away in Scotland but he affirmed his willingness to stand again. The Clerk read his application to the meeting and it was proposed and seconded that he should be nominated to fill the vacancy and can sign the necessary paperwork at the July meeting.

46.2 Sign for outside toilet

Cllr Baird was not in attendance but it was understood that a sign had been placed on the door.

46.3 CCTV for carpark and play area

Cllr Baird was not in attendance as she had been dealing with this matter.

46.4 Vehicle Activated Speed Signs

Cllr Evans reported that as requested at the May meeting he had made enquiries and reported that the cost for additional signage will be £2,425.50 + VAT. The meeting were in agreement with these being put into place and this was resolved unanimously. The Clerk noted that Teignbridge District Council had given a grant of £2,064 as a Community Infrastructure Levy and this could be used for this purpose.

Cllr Evans reported that he was having a meeting with PC Dave Hawkins regarding traffic controls

46.5 Teignbridge Group Planning Forum at Bishopsteignton on Thursday 25th May.

It was reported that this meeting had been cancelled at the very last moment although Councillors Fairley and Bryant had attended the venue not having been informed of the cancellation. A new date has been fixed for Wednesday 21st June at Tedburn St Mary and Cllrs Bryant and Galton will attend.

46.6 Lower Hare Farm

Cllr Fairley had received a report from STAWL but there are no further developments at present. As of 5th June no application has been made to the Environment Agency for the necessary environmental permits that are required before the site can become operational. The dispute regarding the ownership of the access track to the site is ongoing.

  1. MATTERS RAISED BY THE CHAIRMAN

Cllr Fairley reported receiving a letter from Guy Fielding regarding permission to run Airband across his land and he thought he should bring this to the attention of the Parish. Some discussion took place as District Councillors had also become aware of this plan.

  1. FINANCE

Income

48.1 HMRC VAT Refund 2022/2023 £2,204.35

48.2 Devon County Council P3 Grant £170.00

48.3 1 School Houses rental to 2nd July £925.00 - £88.80 (includes £14.80 VAT) = £836.20

The following expenditure was proposed and seconded for payment. All in favour and the cheques were signed by Councillor Belt and Mrs Vaughan as Responsible Financial Officer

Expenditure

48.4 Mr L Blades £469.35 (Lengthsman £259.35 + Grass cutting £210.00) – cheque 695

48.5 Clerk’s quarterly salary and expenses £409.49 – cheque 696

  1. CORRESPONDENCE

49.1 The Clerk reported receiving correspondence from the Mr Peter Knight of Stagecoach South West advising that as from the 4th September the last bus service travelling towards Exeter on the 173 Service will be calling into Whitestone to enable journey opportunities into the city in the evening.

49.2 Cllr Bryant reported receiving an email from Teignbridge’s Community Environmental Officer to inform her that he has followed up both the litter incident by the Church and the fly tipping in Whitestone Woods. Evidence found amongst the fly tipping has been passed to the Police and a letter sent to the driver responsible for the litter incident.

49.3 A resident has informed Cllr Bryant that they have again reported Cross Park Farm to the Enforcement Officer. This was welcomed by the Parish Council who would encourage parishioners to contact the Enforcement Team if they suspect that illegal activity regarding planning issues are occurring within the Parish.

49.4 Cllr Bryant has been informed that a property may be unlawfully being rented out and she will contact the Enforcement Officer to check if this is indeed unlawful.

49.5 Correspondence regarding the buses now operated by Stagecoach has been received by Cllr Bryant. Parishioners are unhappy that the buses are not at present following the timetable. It was suggested that Stagecoach should be invited to join the Whitestone Community Facebook page.

49.6 Cllr Bryant has received an email regarding the removal of hedging at Styles Barton Meadow and she will be reporting this to the Enforcement Officer.

49.7 Ros Davies P3 Officer has contacted Cllr Bryant regarding Bridleway 16 to say that there is no update as yet but will keep her informed.

  1. REPORTS

50.1 Cllr Bryant expressed thanks to Cllr Baird for setting up the Nadderwater telephone box as a book exchange.

50.2 Councillors wished to clarify that the telephone box in Merrymeet is purely for food donations and swapping of food items and not for recycling.

50.3 Cllr Bryant wished to thank the parishioner who planted up the wooden trough in Nadderwater. Any parishioners willing to tend this trough on a regular basis please get in touch with one of the Parish Councillors. Thanks were also expressed to the two ladies who continue to tend the other wooden trough and who also look after the Community garden.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm.

The next meeting of the Council be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 13th July 2023.